Louis richard chazal



(No Model.)

L. R. GHAZAL.

BUCKLE.

No. 446,629. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

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UNITED Smarts Parnnr OFFICE.

LOUIS RICHARD CHAZAL, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PHILIP E. CI-IAZAL, OF SAME PLACE.

B U C K L E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,629, dated February 1'7, 1891. Application filed November 12, 1890- Serial No. 371,214. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, LOUIS RICHARD CHAZAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Charleston and 5 State of South Carolina, have invented anew and useful Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in buckles, the object being to provide a buckle adapted to be applied to the straps of valises and to be locked by a key, whereby tampering with the contents is avoided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention, the same connecting the two ends of the strap. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the buckle. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, parts being shown in side elevation.

Like numerals of reference indicate like '25 parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I construct an oblong buckle-frame 1, the rear half of which is closed by a lock-case 2, with the exception of the extreme rear end, in which is formed a narrow transverse slot 3. Mounted in the lock-case is any ordinary lock mechanism adapted to be operated by a suitable key inserted through the key-hole 4, formed in the face of the lock, and from the front end of the 3 5 case extends a reciprocating bolt or buckle tongue 5. At its front end and at opposite sides the lock-case is extended to form forward] y-proj ecting arms 6, to which are hinged, as at '7, the rearwardly-disposed terminals of 40 a U-shaped bail S, the front transverse bar of which is provided with an opening or keeper 9.

10 designates an ordinarystrap, one end of which is passed through and is secured within 5 the loop 3 of the buckle-frame and the other end of which is passed around any objectsuch as a valise, trunk, or other article-assuming-various proportions, and is perforated, as at 11. The series of perforations 11 are formed upon an incline in lieu of at a right angle to the strap, as is usual, and may or may not be provided with suitable metal eyelets.

In operation, after passing the strap around the article, the free end is introduced upwardly through the bail 8 in the same manner as the end of a strap is usually passed through a buckle, the bail 8 readily swinging upward for the purpose of permitting such introduction. Afterbeingintroduced the end of the strap is drawn upon in the usual man her until the bolt or tongue 5 is opposite one of the openings or eyelets, when, by the insertion and partial rotation of a suitable key inserted in the key-hole 4 of the look-case, said bolt is shot through the perforation or eyelet, and its forward end takes into the socket 9 at the end of the bail. The free end of the strap may be left loose or introduced under a transverse keeper 12, secured to and extending across the lock-case, as shown.

Any suitable form of lock mechanism may be employed, the specific construction of the same not entering into my invention. It Will be observed that a strap provided with a buckle constructed after the one described may be employed for various purposes, such as binding valises and trunks, packages, &C.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- The herein-described buckle, consisting of the lock-case provided with alock mechanism and with a reciprocating bolt mounted in the front end of the same, said case having at its rear end a transverse strap-receiving slot 8 5 and at its front end a pair of forwardly-disposed arms, and a U shaped bail having its terminals hinged to the arms and provided at its ends with an opening for the reception of the end of the bolt, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS RICHARD CHAZAL;

Witnesses:

H. B. MAZYEK, E. G. STUART. 

